Events

On December 11, 2024, BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal, hosted an inspiring event to commemorate International Human Rights Day and honor the rank holders of the MSW 2024 MG University examination. The program, organized by the Social Work Department and ESWA, was held at the Academic Theatre and brought together esteemed dignitaries, faculty, students, and community members. The event began with a prayer song, creating a solemn atmosphere for the gathering. Ms. Nimmy Sebastian delivered the welcome speech, warmly welcoming the dignitaries and attendees and highlighting the importance of the event.

A thought-provoking street play on human rights was performed by the first-year MSW students, shedding light on human rights issues and their relevance in contemporary society. The creative and impactful performance was met with great appreciation. The Presidential Address was delivered by Rev. Fr. Dr. Baby Sebastian, Principal of BVM College, who emphasized the need for education and social responsibility in upholding human rights.
During the felicitation, Mr. Bristo Mathew, Faculty Coordinator, extended his congratulations to the rank holders and commended their hard work and perseverance. The Keynote Address was delivered by Adv. Chandy Oommen MLA, who provided a compelling and inspiring talk on the significance of human rights in governance and social life. In recognition of his contributions and presence, Adv. Chandy Oommen was honored with a memento, symbolizing the college’s gratitude for his support and valuable insights. The program reached its highlight with the presentation of mementos to the rank holders of the MSW 2024 MG University examination. The achievers were acknowledged for their dedication and excellence, making the moment both joyous and inspiring. The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr. Shinto K Shibu, Assistant Professor, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the program. The program ended with the singing of the National Anthem, marking the conclusion of a meaningful and memorable occasion. This well-organized event celebrated academic excellence and raised awareness about human rights, leaving a lasting impact on all attendees.

The PTA meeting for the Third Semester BSW Batch was conducted at 1.30 pm on 13 November 2024. It was held at the College Seminar  Hall. A total of 20 parents attended the meeting, along with the presence of faculty members of the Department of Social Work. Sr. Aswathy Jacob, Class Mentor, delivered a warm welcome speech, emphasizing the significance of parental involvement in students’ education. Rev. Dr. Baby Sebastian, Principal, showcased the college’s facilities and resources, including Infrastructure development, Academic support services, Extracurricular activities, Career guidance and placement opportunities. The Head of Department Deepa Babu (HOD) presented an overview of students’ current academic performance, Strengths and areas for improvement and Strategies for enhancing academic excellence. After the formal session Bristow Mathew, Faculty of Social Work, engaged parents in a thought-provoking session on effective parenting, covering  Building positive relationships, Encouraging open communication, Setting boundaries and expectations Supporting emotional intelligence. Shinto K. Shibu Faculty of Social Work Department  concluded the session with a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to Parents for their active participation, Faculty members for their dedication, Rev. Dr. Baby Sebastian for his valuable insights

The Department of Social Work at BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal, organized a special session titled “Knowing Goonj” on October 3, 2024, at St. Genesius Theatre. The program aimed to raise awareness about the social impact and initiatives of Goonj, an NGO known for its grassroots work in rural development, disaster relief, and sustainable social reform. The session, attended by 138 students from BSW and BCom, provided insights into Goonj’s innovative approach to addressing critical social issues through resource mobilization and community-driven solutions.

The session was led by Mr. Salu Muhammed, a team member from Goonj’s Kochi office. Through a well-structured PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Salu explained Goonj’s mission and activities. He detailed the organization’s focus on transforming urban waste into useful resources for rural development, particularly in disaster relief and rural infrastructure projects. The presentation showcased Goonj’s model of dignity-based development, emphasizing that the initiative goes beyond charity, promoting mutual respect and collective growth.

o Goonj’s Initiatives: Mr. Salu discussed various projects like ‘Cloth for Work’, where rural communities receive materials like clothes and utensils in exchange for labor on community projects such as building bridges, roads, and other infrastructure.
o Sustainability and Innovation: He highlighted how Goonj converts urban discard into useful resources, contributing to environmental sustainability while empowering rural communities. The session was not only informative but also interactive, allowing students to engage in a brief question-answer session. Mr. Salu encouraged the students to think critically about waste, development, and the role of NGOs in shaping a more equitable society.

On the 12th of August 2024, a one-day workshop on mindfulness was successfully conducted under the guidance of the esteemed resource person, Ms. Anne Sharon Kappan. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to mindfulness, its benefits, and practical techniques for integrating it into daily life. The session began warmly welcoming Ms. Kappan, an experienced mindfulness practitioner and educator. She began the workshop by explaining the science and philosophy behind mindfulness, emphasizing its importance in reducing stress, enhancing focus, and improving overall well-being.

The ESWA Association inauguration was held on 06/08/2024 at the Academic Theatre by the Social Work Department. The event honored students, paid tribute to the victims of a recent landslide tragedy, and outlined the department’s plans for the academic year 2024-25. Highlights included a heartfelt musical tribute, an experience-sharing session by senior student Ashish Emmanuel, and the distribution of certificates and tokens of appreciation. The yearly plan was introduced, and felicitations by Bristo Sir and Deepa Ma’am emphasized the role of social work in societal development. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by BSW student Nikhil Thomas, reaffirming the department’s mission to inspire excellence and community service. Key outcomes included student recognition, motivation, and a roadmap for future activities, with next steps focused on committee formation, action planning, training, and resource mobilization.

Conducted by: Sheethal Varghese and Prince Benny
Date: 19/07/24
Number of participants: 44
Objective: To foster creativity, teamwork, and self-expression through theatre arts.

Day 1
On 19-07-2024, a theatre workshop is conducted in BVM Holy Cross College for MSW
students. The program was conducted by Mr. Prince Benny and Sheethal Varghese. The
program aims to improve the understanding of acting techniques and to strengthen teamwork
and collaboration.
The students were divided into 4 groups for the activities. The first mission is to find a proper
name for the group and a signature theme song. Each team beautifully completed the mission.
There was a class conducted by them about theatre workshops and the history of theatre.
There were several activities followed by the class as group activities.
 Balloon Pop Game
 Skit – Groups created short skits on the spot using random props and themes.
 Spot Choreography – Groups created short dance routines on the spot.
 Tablo and Ramp Walk – Participants showcased their creative side through tableau
and ramp walk.
Day 2
On 20-07-2024, the classes were started with meditation and physical exercise. Another
activity was conducted to improve our creativity. The activity is to create and connect a story
one by one. The next activity is to develop a play on the spot by each student. The main focus
of the day was to conduct the street play and thus the practice sessions were given for so
long. The main theme of the street play is drug abuse based on real incidents. The students
together perform the street play in front of the faculty and they admire the student’s talent.
The closing ceremony was inaugurated by Deepa Ma’am, HOD of Social Work. The
certificates were distributed to both the resource persons and the students.

OUTCOMES
 Enhanced creativity and self-expression.
 Improved teamwork and communication skills.
 Increased confidence and stage presence.
 Raised awareness about social issues through street play.

CONCLUSION
The theatre workshop was a resounding success. Participants had a blast while learning and
growing. We’re proud of the progress they made and can’t wait to perform the street play that
we learned.

Organized by the ESWA

Emerging Social Workers Association of Department of Social Work, BVM Holy Cross College organised an Enrichment session on CV preparation for second year MSW Students on 27^th September 2023 at 12.00 PM at MSW Batch B Classroom. Ms. Deepa Babu, Head Dept. of Social Work addressed the students by stating the importance of the CV for internship and job hunt. Mr. Janson Varghese, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Social Work was the resource person for the session and he explained the components of CV in detail with appropriate examples. The session closed by the vote of thanks of Mr. Ashish Emmanuel, President ESWA. 

ESWA in association with Vianney Centre for Child Development conducted an awareness session on the topic “Developmental Disorders in Children” on 20/09/2023 at 11 PM at the Seminar hall of BVM Holy Cross College. Mr. Ashish Emmanuel, President of ESWA delivered the welcome address. Ms. Binjumol Jose, Founder Director and Rehabilitation Coordinator of Vianney Centre for Child Development, Cherpunkal led the session on Developmental Disorders in Children and shared her experiences in the field. Mr. Ashwin Kurian, BSW student of BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal gave the vote of thanks for the program. 55 students participated in the programme.

Emerging Social Workers Association of Department of Social Work organised the screening of the film ‘The Hope’ on 16/09/2023 at 6 PM onwards in the Education Theatre of BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal. Mr. Ashish Emmanuel, Secretary of ESWA delivered the welcome address and the keynote address was given by Dr. Baby Sebastian Thonikuzhy, Principal BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal. The 2-hour film engaged the audience with new positive thoughts. Mr. Joy Kallukaran, Director of the film addressed the gathering and the interactive session was remarkable as the audience presented their comments and other feedbacks on the film. There were 195 participants for the program and it was a grand success as the ESWA managed to mobilise the local community people to watch the film show.

The Department of Social Work organized a Student Induction Programme (SIP) for first year
BSW students( Batch 2023-26). It was held on 27 th July 2023 at College Open Auditorium. The
purpose of Student Induction Programme was to help new students adjust and feel comfortable in
the new environment, inculcate in them the culture of the institution, help them build bonds with
other students and faculty members, and expose them to a sense of larger purpose and self
exploration.
The programme started with an ice breaking session . It was handled by HR Manager, Mr. Anit
Jose. The fun and interactive activities were beneficial to foster connections among students and
build a supportive network. The college principal, Rev. Dr. Sebastian Thonikuzhy addressed the
students. He explained about the college, campus, placement, exam and so on. Later the faculties
of Social Work Department, Mr. Sajo Joy and Mr. Bristo Mathew engaged the sessions. There
was a cultural session too, where the students performed various programmes such as group
songs, dance, folk songs etc. During the last session, the students presented their feedbacks about
the programme.
Overall, the student induction programme enabled the students to create a we feeling among
them. It also helped to create a positive and supportive environment for incoming students.

The Department of Social Work of BVM HCC Cherpunkal conducted outreach program at
Government Blind School Olassa on 20th July 2023 as part of Your Voice Matters Campaign in
connection with the reading week observation of 2023
The mission of the campaign was to promote reading habit in visually challenged students by
donating recorded audios short stories, novels, poems, articles etc. Mr. Prashant V Kaimal, the
president of ‘Sahithya Samajam’ club welcomed the participants. Mr. E J Kurain (HM, GBS,
Olassa) delivered the presidential address for the program. Mr Sajo Joy, Faculty of BVM Holy
Cross College inaugurated the Sahithya Samajam – Cultural Forum of the School. The recorded
audio was handed over to the Government Blind School Audio library. Mr Bristo Mathew, Faculty
of BVM Holy Cross College delivered a motivational session to the students there. The students
and teachers performed various cultural programs, Tabala by Sreejith, song by Sreelatha &
Krishendhu, Mappila song by Abdul Razzaq were the highlights of the day. The recorded message
by Mr. Gokul S IAS (Assistant Collector – Thirunelveli) inspired audience by his cherished words.
Ms. Deepa Babu, Head, Social Work Department and Mr Bilahari S & Jacob Sam (Faculty, Media
Dept.) graced us with their inestimable words. The program concluded by 5 pm.

Department of Social Work BVM, Holy Cross College Cherpunkal, Pala conducted the Inauguration of ESWA (Emerging Social Workers Association) on 19^th July, 2023. The Chief Guest of the day was Ms. Dwitheeya Pathiramanna, Early Interventionist, CDC, Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai. Ms Deepa Babu, Head of the Department of Social Work, gave a warm welcome to the Chief guest and the dignitaries. Rev. Dr. Baby Sebastian, Principal of the College delivered the Presidential Address. A small section was taken by Ms. Dwitheeya Pathiramanna about social work interventions with children. After the section a melodious song was sung by Nibu Benny of 2^nd year MSW. ESWA coordinator Mr. Bristo Mathew and Association Secretary Ashish Emmanuel facilitated after the session. Nearly 200 social work trainees participated in the programme. The entire programme took place in the Academic theatre of the College. Ms. Ashmi Saji, the Social Work trainee gave the Vote of thanks at the end of the programme. The program ended with prayers for the people who were suffering due to riots in Manipur.